Method and arrangement for controlling discontinuous reception by a user equipment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method in a network node for controlling DRX to be applied by a user equipment, UE, connected to said network node. Said network node can order the UE to enter a first DRX cycle by means of a specific control element. The method comprises the step of ordering the user equipment to enter a second DRX cycle by means of a modified usage of said specific control element. The disclosure furthermore relates to a network node, a method in a user equipment and a user equipment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method in a network node for controlling discontinuous reception to be applied by a user equipment, wherein the network node is configured to order the user equipment to enter a first discontinuous reception cycle by sending a control element comprising a specific control element value to the user equipment, the method comprising:
 ordering the user equipment to enter a second discontinuous reception cycle by modifying the sending of the control element, wherein the modified sending comprises sending the same specific control element value multiple times in the same packet data unit. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the packet data unit is a medium access control (MAC) packet data unit and the control element is a MAC control element. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of ordering the user equipment to stop a timer associated with the first discontinuous reception cycle by the modified sending. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first discontinuous reception cycle is a short discontinuous reception cycle and the second discontinuous reception cycle is a long discontinuous reception cycle. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network node is an eNodeB for use in an Long Term Evolution system. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific control element value is a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) value. 
     
     
       7. A network node capable of controlling discontinuous reception to be applied by a user equipment, wherein the network node comprises a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the network node is configured to:
 order the user equipment to enter a first discontinuous reception cycle by sending a control element in a packet data unit comprising a specific control element value; and 
 order the user equipment to enter a second discontinuous reception cycle by including the same specific control element value multiple times within the packet data unit. 
 
     
     
       8. The network node according to  claim 7 , wherein the packet data unit is a medium access control packet data unit. 
     
     
       9. The network node according to  claim 7 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the network node is configured to order the user equipment to stop a timer associated with the first discontinuous reception cycle. 
     
     
       10. The network node according to  claim 7 , wherein the first discontinuous reception cycle is a short discontinuous reception cycle and the second discontinuous reception cycle is a long discontinuous reception cycle. 
     
     
       11. The network node according to  claim 7 , wherein the network node is an eNodeB for use in an Long Term Evolution system. 
     
     
       12. The network node of  claim 7 , wherein the network node is configured to:
 move a first user equipment to enter the first discontinuous reception cycle by sending the specific control element value multiple times in a first packet data unit; and 
 move a second user equipment to enter the second discontinuous reception cycle by sending the specific control element value multiple times in a second packet data unit, 
 wherein both the first user equipment and the second user equipment are configured to enter the first discontinuous reception cycle if the network node sends the specific control element value only one time in a packet data unit. 
 
     
     
       13. A method in a user equipment for applying discontinuous reception wherein the user equipment is configured to enter a first discontinuous reception cycle responsive to reception of a control element comprising a specific control element value from a network node, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the network node, the specific control element value, and detecting that the specific control element value is included multiple times within a packet data unit; and 
 responsive to the detecting, entering a second discontinuous reception cycle. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the packet data unit is a medium access control packet data unit. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 13 , comprising stopping a timer associated with the first discontinuous reception cycle responsive to the detecting. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first discontinuous reception cycle is a short discontinuous reception cycle and the second discontinuous reception cycle is a long discontinuous reception cycle. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the specific control element value is a Logical Channel Identity (LCID) value. 
     
     
       18. A user equipment configured to apply discontinuous reception, the user equipment comprises a processor and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the user equipment is configured to:
 enter a first discontinuous reception cycle responsive to reception of a control element comprising a specific control element value from a network node; 
 receive, from the network node, the specific control element value; 
 detect that the specific control element value has been included multiple times in a packet data unit; and 
 responsive to detecting that the specific control element value has been included multiple times in a packet data unit enter a second discontinuous reception cycle. 
 
     
     
       19. The user equipment according to  claim 18 , wherein the packet data unit is a medium access control packet data unit. 
     
     
       20. The user equipment according to  claim 18 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the user equipment is configured to stop a timer associated with the first discontinuous reception cycle responsive to detecting that the specific control element value has been included multiple times in the packet data unit. 
     
     
       21. The user equipment according to  claim 18 , wherein the first discontinuous reception cycle is a short discontinuous reception cycle and the second discontinuous reception cycle is a long discontinuous reception cycle. 
     
     
       22. The user equipment of  claim 18 , wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processor whereby the user equipment is configured to:
 detect that the specific control element value has been included only one time in a packet data unit; and 
 enter the first discontinuous reception cycle responsive to reception of a specific control element value from the network node and detecting that the specific control element value has been included only one time in a packet data unit.